RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 5 sources
What Klay Thompson Joining the Heat Means for the Celtics originally appeared on NESN .
Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Klay Thompson is heading back to free agency — sort of.
On Friday, the Dallas Mavericks announced that they've reached a buyout agreement with the four-time NBA champion. While that means Thompson will be free to sign with any team of his choosing once he's cleared waivers, it sounds like he's already picked his destination.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania , Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Here's how Thompson's buyout and intentions to join the Heat impact the Boston Celtics .
MORE: Celtics Receive Sobering Ranking After Jaylen Brown Trade
What Klay Thompson Joining the Heat Means for the Celtics
The Eastern Conference continues to get stronger.
Earlier this week, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets. It remains to be seen whether Watson can get the Cavaliers over the hump, but he checks an important box, giving Cleveland an athletic wing who can space the floor and defend multiple positions.
Now, the Heat have addressed one of their biggest weaknesses.
The Heat were already expected to compete this season. Antetokounmpo is still a force like no other and Adebayo is an elite center who is a staple in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. It would be a disappointment if the Heat aren't one of the league's best defensive teams with them, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. It's the offense that could be a bit clunky.
What the Heat lack is consistent 3-point shooting. A 36-year-old Thompson isn't going to solve that problem all by himself, but he will help in a big way.
Thompson came off the bench most of last season and played a career-low 21.7 minutes per game. He still averaged 11.7 points per game while shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range. He remains someone teams can't leave open, and he's still a dynamite movement shooter who keeps defenses engaged.
The Heat don't need Thompson to carry them offensively. They need him to make it harder for defenses to load up on Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. It becomes a little more difficult to pack the paint when Thompson, who will probably go down as the NBA's second-best shooter of all time, is standing on the perimeter.
MORE: Paul George's Celtics Ceiling and Floor Are Miles Apart
The East suddenly feels like a nine-team race for six guaranteed playoff spots. Unless another team joins the party, only six of the Celtics, Heat, Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers will skip the Play-In Tournament. The other three will be forced into the Play-In, and at least one of them won't make the playoffs.
The Celtics can only hope they're not one of those teams that misses the cut.
This news also makes Boston's margin for error smaller. There was already going to be a transition period as Jayson Tatum worked his way back from his Achilles injury and Joe Mazzulla worked Paul George into the offense. With another contender getting stronger, it becomes even more important for the Celtics to click sooner rather than later.
More Celtics
Latest Celtics news
TD Garden fan guide: What to know before you go
Complete history of Celtics championships
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.